LETTERKENNY, IRELAND – They may have been unlucky in love but an estranged couple hit the Lotto jackpot when they scooped €500,000 with two separate tickets with the same numbers.

Pat O’Hagan from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, collected his €250,000 cheque at Lotto headquarters in Dublin after his numbers came up on Saturday in the Lotto Plus 2 draw.

The other winner tried to keep their identity secret, but it has been confirmed beyond doubt that it was Mr O’Hagan’s estranged wife Margaret who used the same numbers as her ex-husband to win the prize.

Reports suggest the former couple, who have a grown up family, even purchased their winning tickets on the same day. Pat paid €4 for his ticket, whilst his former partner shelled out €12.

Pat revealed that he had been using the same numbers since the Lotto began and that his biggest previous win was worth over €1,000.